Holmes® Products Blog

Is Your AC Making you Uncomfortable?

In the hot, humid weather of the summer, your air conditioning unit can be your saving grace. It can provide you with the cool air and low humidity that you're in dire need of when you spend the day in the scorching heat. However, it can sometimes produce the opposite effect and cause you to feel uncomfortable, whether that's in the form of a sickness or an inconsistent indoor temperature. So how do you keep its effects purely positive? First, you need to figure out why it's making you uncomfortable in the first place.

The Thermostat Could be Inaccurate
If you pre-set your air conditioning unit to a certain temperature, you probably expect it to be a consistent temperature whenever you step into the room. However, it could be warmer or cooler than you'd like, and there are reasons for that. For starters, there could be something blocking the thermostat that reads the current temperature and adjusts the unit accordingly. If you have shelving units or curtains in front of the AC, the thermostat could be reading an inaccurate temperature and therefore use too much or too little power. To prevent this from happening, be sure to clear the thermostat and don't place anything in front of the unit so the air circulates properly and efficiently.

There Could be Mold Growth
Air conditioners work by taking air from the outside, filtering and cooling it and circulating it around your room. This creates some condensation, which means there's an opportunity for moisture to rest inside of the unit, in turn creating a breeding ground for mold. Breathing in mold spores can cause a wide variety of health issues - it varies from person to person. Health issues include breathing problems, pneumonia or throat and nasal discomfort. Be sure to clean your unit and replace your filters when it's appropriate to do so.

Low humidity levels may cause dry skin.

It May be Drying Out Your Skin
By now, you probably know that moisture is great for your body. Humidity provides your skin with the hydration it needs to produce that dewy, glowing complexion. When you run your air conditioner, it takes out the humidity in your room. Your skin can be affected negatively, causing dry patches that itch and cause discomfort.

Furthermore, the cold air can cause your mucus membranes inside your nose and throat to become dry, which might even make you more prone to sickness. Nobody likes waking up to a dry, itchy throat. If this is a concern for you, try running your air conditioner while you're out and turning it off when you return. That way, you come back to a cool room without having to experience the blast of cold air that can be irritating to your skin and nasal passageways. You should also be drinking a sufficient amount of water every day to restore hydration.

"Air conditioners recycle air and keep it contained indoors."

The Old Air Could be Contaminated
Air conditioners recycle air and keep it contained indoors. While this could mean good things for people with allergies who don't want to risk breathing in pollen from the outside, it can also be damaging. If the recycled air is contaminated with pet dander, mold spores or other irritants, that's the same air that will continuously circulate throughout your home. These particles can cause a range of discomfort, from breathing issues to throat or nose irritation, depending on the particles in the air. Be sure to open the windows from time to time to allow new, fresh air to circulate.